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Mkhitaryan explains why he needed to swap Manchester United for Arsenal

Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal celebrates scoring the 3rd Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadi...
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Arsenal midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has rediscovered some form since leaving Manchester United.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on February 3, 2018 in London, England.

Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan has told FourFourTwo he wanted to join Arsenal because he missed playing offensively at Manchester United, and it seems he has been vindicated in his decision to move away from Old Trafford.

Mkhitaryan was transferred from United to Arsenal in January in a swap deal for Alexis Sanchez. Since then, he has experienced a complete turnaround in form.

He was unable to make an impression at United and eventually fell out of favour with manager Jose Mourinho, making just 26 starts in the Premier League.

But he immediately looked a different player on his debut at the Emirates, providing three assists in Arsenal’s 5-1 victory over Everton.

In his first 11 games for the Gunners, the Armenian has picked up two goals and six assists, indicating he is far more comfortable at the London club.

Mkhitaryan himself has suggested that he was stifled by United’s playing style, stating: “It’s important for me to play in an offensive team.”

Henrikh Mkhitaryan of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on February 10, 2018 in London, England.

The sudden and drastic improvement in his performances certainly seem to validate the idea that he is better suited to Arsenal’s faster, more attacking style of play.

The Gunners are famously a positive, quick-passing side, which is what Mkhitaryan would have been used to at his former club Borussia Dortmund.

United, meanwhile, despite having a fairly consistent season, have looked rigid in their attacks and players like Mkhitaryan have not been able to play free-flowing football.

At the Emirates, the midfielder now has the opportunity to rediscover the form that once made him one of the hottest properties in the Bundesliga.